Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($270,700 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Dallas
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dallas
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$312k less
$270,700 vs $582,400
Dallas
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
15% lower
558.4 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $64,119 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 14 and East Los Angeles wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Dallas to East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $582,400 median home), income ($63,985 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and East Los Angeles, CA are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.